"Honey.." Mom's voice echoes softly. "Wake up honey. You'll be late."
"C'mon mom... Can I not go today?"
"You skipped yesterday. You have to go today."
Ugh! I realise I snoozed my alarm somehow. There's a text from Damien. "Are you that scared of facing me so you didn't come yesterday? Do you plan to skip today too?"
That rotten mule! He loves provoking me huh...
"What's wrong honey?" Mom asks caressing my head.
"Mom! I'm not a kid," I complain.
"I know. Now tell me what's bothering you."
"A stubborn mule," I mull over.
"Huh?"
"Nothing mom. Just let me have breakfast real quick and I'll be off." I'll see you Damien Frost.
While in shower my mind repeats the question again—What did he mean? I notice red faint fingerprints on my right shoulder in the mirror. He was freaking digging into me that day. Crazy guitarist... Always getting on my nerves.
••••
In class I manage to keep my attention on the teacher's lecture but a continuous light annoying kicking on my seat keeps me far from it. He's sit behind me. And he's been doing it ever since the teacher came. I didn't even look at him. He wants my attention now? How very childish! I want to punch him so bad...
As the period comes to an end Prof. Robert addresses us, "So, how your assignments been coming off?"
"It's going well professor," a few bunch of excited nerds and over enthusiasts yell in agreement.
"Good. But listen everyone, no matter what you do in this—the main event is yet to come and I know your mind's set on participating in it. You must not slack off alright?" He raises his fist. "Cause we are?"
Prof. Robert's cheerful face forms a wide encouraging smile and everyone says in unison, "The students of M.H Academy."
Yeah. Mozart's Heart Academy... The second most reputed performing arts university in Manhattan. Only Mr. Robert knows how to cheer his students. Our academy is still in second place because of Elves Academy. The name's surely inspired by Elvis Presley. And they have a rock boy band group named Clouds Nine. Recently they're getting...in the market. We have Four of Clubs but...they have only one popular song in their list. To say it like... Damien's the hope for M.H now. Regardless his personal affairs—if Four of Clubs fails to perform well in this year's competition... I have to guess M.H.'s reputation will be affected.
As soon as the professor leaves Damien's face comes under my chin as he whispers, "We need to talk."
"Hah," I grin. "You need to talk that'd be."
He replaces his frustration with a smile. "Yes if that makes you satisfied My An—"
I quickly press my palm against his mouth. "Shh... Don't."
His lips move against my palm causing that spot to tickle. I pull him out of the class and head to the main ground.
"Why dragged me here? There are so many people here."
I roll my eyes. "And? You didn't plan to do something dirty, did you? Then what're you afraid of?"
He grabs my hand taking me to the building top.
"Hey!" I attempt to free myself.
Then he loosens his grip. "I won't throw you off the building. Relax."
The surprisingly cool midday breeze tousles my hair and the bright late July sunrays warms up my shirt. He folds his sleeves up then undo his first button.
"What do you think you're doing?" I ask suppressing my inner panic.
"It's pretty hot today."
"Then why come here?"
"It's the quietest place here and ideal for being inspired. A little close to nature, don't you think?" He suggestively touches a long hanging leaf of a coconut tree that's only inches away from the building. "Look, I have something to suggest," he licks his lower lip.
I roll up my sleeves removing a sweat bead that was about to drop down the messy locks near my forehead. as well. It's indeed hot today.
His eyes now fixated on me... Such intense look in them. I wave my hand in front of his face, "Are you zoning out? If you have nothing to talk about don't waste my time."
"Wait," he stops me. "Look I don't know what happened to you the other day...but if you're not comfortable with singing the song, I won't force you."
His statement gives me a warm feeling all of a sudden. Atleast he understands. But what about...
"Instead help me with my song that I'm writing okay?"
"Okay but..."
His face lit up in excitement. "At 7 tonight, my place."
Wow he didn't even let me finish.
••••
I agreed with him earlier today. But what if I can't help him like he expects me to..? I don't know what inspired me to suddenly write that song and think about its tune. But what if I fail to help him today? When it comes to things like these—I don't trust myself. And I don't want to disappoint myself in front of that arrogant ass.
"What's eating you my baby boy?" Mom asks while adding sugar to the strawberry shake.
"Err...nothing."
"Don't gimme that. You came to help me in the kitchen but since then...I've noticed, your mind's wandering." She examines my face. "You never tell me about school or your friends. And don't tell me to ask Chris. I know he's not with you 24/7."
I take the glass from her hand tasting it. It's 6 already. I still have an hour to think.
"Sein?"
"Ah yes.."
"You know you can tell me anything," she gives a small smile before wiping the left corner of my mouth. "Still messy sometimes haha."
Anything? I got drunk and slept in someone else's bedroom. That someone else threatened me to be his partner. He also made me break my own condition. And cherry on top? I managed to sleep soundly in his place. Oh mom! For some reason I feel like a lot is yet to happen and it's just the beginning.
But to ease the tension I say, "I need your opinion on something."
"Tell me."
I finish the drink quickly and bring my notebook to her. "Our assignment is composition and its briefing. I...wrote a song. I want you to tell me how it is."
Her eyes sparkle with pride as if she wanted to hear this all along. Opening the page I hand her the notebook. I try to sing the first four lines.
"I never successfully released a song my boy, but I can tell, you put your raw feelings in it."
"What? No. I just wrote it out of the blue and..."
She doesn't let me finish. "Oh you don't have to deny it."
"But I..."
She cuts me again. "Then perhaps you don't know it yet. Subconscious feelings—we often don't feel them strongly or vividly but they pile up. But we often don't want to recognise them—sometimes in fear sometimes in doubt."
Her words make me blink dubiously. "What are you insinuating mom?! I just wrote a song. Why dwell on some uncertain feelings that somehow evoked it?!"
She gives me lopsided grin as if she really doesn't trust me or my feelings... As if I'm lying to her and she knows it. Am I lying? Who cares how it happened? The main achievement is that I did it.
"Hey Mom..."
"Yes honey?" She leans in to read my face up close.
"Are you really okay?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You know very well what I mean mom."
She spins actively. "I feel just fine and lively. Can't you see?" Putting her hands on her hips she frowns at me, "Don't you treat me like some old woman."
"You aren't some old woman at all. But mom, don't try to evade me."
"I feel all good. You have somewhere to be right now. Look it's 6.40p.m."
"You literally are driving me away," I resist.
"No. I'm telling you to not let your friend keep waiting."
"He's not my..."
"Ah Sein! Get dressed already." She pushes me back into my room.
What to wear? Damien always wears black and those silver studs... suits him good. What if I wear black today? I have only one designer black shirt cause I don't wear black much and I bought it a year ago. But you know what... Gotta show him today that Saint can slay black too. I come my hand and spray a bit of my cologne.
When I slip past the main door mom squeals in adorement. "Look at ya my big boy... You look absolutely charming!" Her eyes glisten.
"Woah mom... I just...
"My little angel has grown to be so handsome... I'll make sure to have more black outfits in your wardrobe."
"You're fluttering me for no reason mom."
"It's called genuine compliment coming from the woman who was once a fashion freak in her days."
I kiss her on the cheek. " See you later then."
"Bye honey."
••••
Hm...if she thinks that... In this look no one can stay mad at me for long no matter how much I offend them—not even Dami... Wait, why would I even think like that?
I ring the doorbell. A minute later someone opens the door and it's not him. It's a petite blonde girl.
She smiles at me taking into my view. "Are all of Damien's friends this princely?" She pulls me inside. "Baby, someone's here." She calls out to who I assume to be Damien.
The insides of my mouth becomes sour the moment I see him coming out of his room in a black vest and blue jeans. He's not wearing a shirt...in casual attire. Why do I feel overdressed? I wished he wasn't the one she called out to. This very thought surprises me even more. Why she called him baby?
"He looks like he came straight out of a fashion show," she compliments.
Damien locks his eyes with me—that same intensity—like a hunter on its prey—a sparrow being watched by a falcon. "Someone put efforts today to beat me huh? I'm impressed."
I shrug. "There was no effort at all. I just threw on something that was in my closet."
His lips curl up in a mischievous smirk. "I wish you could lie for a moment Saint Angel. Cause I love when someone puts effort in something simple every now and then." His gaze burns my soul.
"Isn't that right baby? Little things matter after all," she says linking her hand with his.
"I told you not to call me that," Damien reminds her.
Suddenly I feel that previous soul burning feeling returning. Who's she?
"Who's he?" She asks the same question I thought I'd ask first. I try to maintain my all time Saint special stoic face but it suddenly gets harder for me so I take a seat on the couch avoiding eye contact with Damien.
"He's my..."
I cut him. "Just his assignment partner." I flinch at my own words. What the fuck is going on with me?! "And I have no interest in knowing whatever's going on between you two," I look into her face. "In fact I should leave now. Pardon for the sudden visit."
When I get up Damien pushes me back to where I was sitting. "What sudden visit? You were to meet me at 7 today. It's 7.05p.m now "
The girl gives me an apologetic look. "Oh I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Catherine aka Katie."
"Saint," I introduce myself. "I'm in the same faculty as Damien."
"That's cool!" She shakes my hand. "Wait, do you want some coffee?"
Her hands are now on Damien's back.
"Katie and I have been..."
Damien's words get cut off by Katie. "In a relationship...for a week now. I came to visit him all the way from Venezuela."
Damien squeezes her hand and she returns it smiling weirdly at each other.